race

Simply put, race is social grouping of people based on shared physical characteristics and culture. Races are not the same in each country or geographic region and are determined by the dominant group in that country or geographic region. It’s important to note that race is neither biological nor genetic, but a social construct; that it is fluid; that what constitutes any given race changes over time; and that people may identify themselves with more than one race while others may identify them with only one race.

Do not confuse race with ethnicity. Also see racism.

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racism

In its most simple definition, racism is a prejudice based on race involving in which that prejudice is based on a social hierarchy and furthers the social hierarchy. However, there are many types of racism which rarely occur alone.

Some types of racism include:

This is far from an exhaustive list of types of racism, and types of racism often overlap.

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rape, sexual assault

Rape is a penetration of the vagina or anus, no matter how slight, by a body part or object without consent of the victim, or the oral penetration by a sexual organ, no matter how slight, without consent of the victim. The legal definition of rape may change from state to state, but the overarching idea is that rape is a type of sexual penetration without consent.

Sexual assault is a broader term, but also a legal term. It is broadly defined as sexual behavior or contact that occurs without the consent of the victim. Types of sexual assault may include rape, attempted rape, unwanted touching, forcing a victim to perform sex acts, etc. Again, definitions may vary from state to state.

In cases of sexual assault, including rape, force may be physical, emotional, psychological, coercion, or other forms of manipulation.

Rape and sexual assault should be understood and reported as violence, not sex. Terms such as alleged and claimed can infer that the person who experienced the violence is not telling the truth or is fabricating the story; therefore, such terms should be avoided. See allege, alleged, allegedly.

For more information on laws by state, visit the State Law Generator from RAINN.

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recovery

A term for improved or improving physical, social, psychological well-being after an addiction. Can be applied to both recuperating from an illness but is often associated with addiction.

Recovery from addiction looks different for different people. It takes many approaches including, but not limited to harm reduction; detox; therapy; treatment centers; medications; and groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, or other support and 12-step groups. Many people who have experienced addiction consider recovery a never-ending process and something that may need to be restarted several times throughout their post-addiction period.

For more information, see Reporting on Addiction.

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refugee

A person seeking safety in another country due to the conditions in their own country. In the U.S., when applying for asylum or refugee-status, this person is often called an asylum-seeker. Under  U.S. law, a person seeking asylum must, by law, show:

1. a well-founded fear of persecution
2. on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group
3. that they are unwilling or unable to return to, or avail themselves of the protection of, their country of origin because of such fear.

According to the Boston College Law Review article, With Fear, favor, and flawed analysis: Decision-making in the U.S. Immigration Courts:

The persecution must be carried out by the government of their country of origin or by a person or group that the government is unwilling or unable to control. If the applicant could avoid harm by relocating elsewhere in their country, and it would be reasonable to expect them to do so, that negates their well-founded fear, making them ineligible for asylum. However, notably, if the persecutor is the government, the applicant is entitled to a rebuttable presumption that persecution is countrywide and internal relocation is not possible.

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rehab

Short for rehabilitation. A generic term for a program or facility that treats a person with a diagnosed condition.

Rehab includes outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, psychology, social work, vocational assistance, and drug treatment. Rehab facilities also include inpatient medical care (such as following a surgery, an illness, a traumatic injury, a stroke, etc.); inpatient physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy; inpatient drug or alcohol treatment; inpatient psychiatric care. They also include skilled nursing facilities (colloquially called nursing homes).

If discussing a rehab program, it is best to be descriptive of the type of care, especially because in popular vernacular and due to references in popular music and movies, the term rehab has been negatively associated with drug treatment facilities.

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republic

A form of government in which citizens elect representatives to govern. Although a republic is similar to a representative democracy, the key distinguishing feature is a constitution which is meant to protect the rights of all citizens.

Also see democracy.

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rest

A noun meaning a state of refreshing ease, period of inactivity after exertion or labor, a refreshing period, or sleep. As a verb it can be used without an object to mean to refresh oneself, as by sleeping, lying down, or relaxing; or to relieve weariness by cessation of exertion or labor. To use as a verb with an object, it means to give a period of refreshment or to lay something in a place of ease or support.

Do not confuse with wrest, which means to take away by force.

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